QP: Borders and pipeline taxes

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While Justin Trudeau was present today after meeting with the prime minister of Estonia, Andrew Scheer was away. In his place, Lisa Raitt led off, worried about irregular border crossers, and the strain it was putting on housing. Trudeau stood to respond, script in hand, to say that they have robust processes, but the previous government left them backlogs that they were still cleaning up. When Raitt insisted that there were three separate problems as a result of his #WelcomeToCanada tweet, the lack of clarity from the immigration minister, and the international development minister welcoming those migrants because they helped with a labour shortage in her riding. Trudeau didn’t take up a script this time and reminded Raitt that they have a system that applies to everyone, and when Raitt tried a third time, Trudeau got more vociferous in his reiteration that there is a proper process, that they ensure that everyone goes through it, whether there are backlogs or not. Gérard Deltell took over in French, reiterating the previous question, to which Trudeau noted that while Canada welcomes people a from around the rule, the system is applied with integrity and that we are a country with a rule of law. On a second time around, Trudeau noted that they still had irregular migrants under their watch, and they cut their healthcare on top of resources to CBSA and the IRB. Guy Caron led off for the NDP, and accused Kinder Morgan of avoiding Canadian taxes, so why would the government give them a blank cheque. Trudeau started with the tired environment and the economy talking point before transitioning to the fact that without the pipeline, our economy is losing out of a $15 billion because of a lack of access to other markets. Caron tried again, and Trudeau doubled down on the need for a better price for our oil. Ruth Ellen Brosseau took over to ask the same again in English, and Trudeau reiterated his answer, and again on a second go around.

Round two, and Blake Richards, Sylvie Boucher and Rachael Harder accused the government of looking to use taxpayer funds to campaign (Gould: Remember when you had a minister wearing a partisan t-shirt to make a child care announcement; Look at all the great things in this bill; No, the Prime Minister didn’t order Elections Canada to proceed with the changes), and Pierre Poilievre asked about the deficit figures (Morneau: The plan we put in place in 2015 are on track). Tracey Ramsey worried about Trump’s latest tariff threats (Freeland: We have told them that their concerns make no sense), and Brian Masse railed about manufacturing (Bains: We have invested in the automotive sector). Matt Jeneroux, Jamie Schmale, and Shannon Stubbs worried about the lack of legislation on the Trans Mountain pipeline (Carr: This is in the national interest and Canadians see that, but we know this is already in our jurisdiction). Nathan Cullen returned to the Kinder Morgan bailout accusations (Garneau: We have an oceans protection plan that has an industry-funded compensation fund; Carr: We know these projects are controversial but even New Democrats and First Nations agree with the project).

Round three saw questions on the the Arctic surf clam fishery (Beech: We have reiterated time and again that these allegations are false), BC seniors homes under Chinese ownership (Bains: The provincial government is responsible for any issues), banking sector privacy (Morneau: We know innovation is important on the sector but there is no change to privacy regulations), Michaëlle Jean’s spending at the Francophonie (Bibeau: We are proud of her work, but we will work on financial accounting measures), a possible rail strike (Hajdu: We are working to achieve a solution), Israel building housing units in illegal settlements (Freeland: We are an friend of Israel and we are engaged on these issues), Huawei’s activities in Canada (Bains: We have the tools necessary to address our national interest and we have an IP strategy), the border (Garneau: We are engaging with Nigeria and are communicating that there is a process with an independent tribunal), and air fatigue rules impacting the North (Garneau: I have been in contact with Northern stakeholders).

Overall, it was a fairly standard day, without much in the way of shenanigans or outbursts, and the only thing new today was the fact that the NDP think they’ve found their ace in the hole around this revelation that Kinder Morgan has paid very little in Canadian taxes. Trudeau didn’t really have an answer for that, but we’ll see if that changes tomorrow (given that it takes this government a good 24 hours or so to respond to new questions or lines). I continue to be a bit mystified by the political calculations behind the attacks against Michaëlle Jean by particular Conservative MPs in Quebec, but maybe there are dynamics in the province that I’m not aware of that they’re responding to.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Terry Beech for a navy suit with a light blue shirt, a blue and pink tie and a pink pocket square, and to Lisa Raitt for a dark blue structured top over a white one under a white jacket with black slacks. Style citations go out to Ruth Ellen Brosseau for a black wrap tunic with large pink florals and black slacks, and to Stéphane Lauzon for a taupe suit and tie with a charcoal shirt. Dishonourable mention goes out to Frank Baylis for a black suit with a lemon yellow shirt and tie, and Anju Dhillon for a yellow top with a black suit.